IS THERE SUCH THING AS A HUMBLE SUPREMACIST?:

A Driving Desire To Lose (Michael Gerson, May 13, 2009, Washington Post)

Of the two main American political parties, Republicans are now clearly distinguished by their driving desire to lose. Every faction seems determined to rule the kingdom of irrelevance.

Witness the reaction to the National Council for a New America -- an anodyne "listening tour" by Republican officials recently kicked off at a pizza parlor in Northern Virginia. Social conservatives attacked this forum on education and the economy for the offense of not being a forum on abortion and the traditional family. Neo-Reaganites searched the transcript for nonexistent slights: How dare former Florida governor Jeb Bush criticize "nostalgia" for the "good old days"? Why didn't he just spit on Ronald Reagan's grave? Other conservatives criticized the very idea of a listening tour, asking, "What's to hear?"

During a recent conversation, Bush described himself as "dumbfounded by the reaction." He added: "I don't think listening is a weakness. People are yearning to be heard. Perhaps we should begin with a little humility."

There is much for Republicans to be humble about. The party, says Bush, faces "dramatically changing demographics, especially Hispanics in swing states," the "alienation of young voters" and an unprecedented drop in support among college graduates.

The Right heard Reagan say that, "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." But they're not just stuck in time--imagining that the crises of the '70s persist--they also ignore what he actually did as president: massive growth of government and deficits, propping up Second Way entitlements, and immigration amnesty. They aren't Reaganites and what they're nostalgic for never happened. Theirs is the politics of delusion.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 13, 2009 7:49 AM